Xperia ZL up for pre-order in US, contract free from $720
The Sony Xperia ZL is up for pre-order in the US from Sony's own retail store. The device comes in two unlocked options - an HSPA version that's up for $720 contract-free and a 4G-enabled $760 one. The latter works on LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 17, so it should, in theory, be usable on AT&T's network. The 4G variant should begin shipping to users starting April 8.
If you're all about the speedier network access then it's more prudent to spend the extra 40 bucks for the 4G variant, but if HSPA speeds suit your data needs then $720 could be the better option. Either way the pricing is steep.
Sony says that the ZL will become available for purchase through other retail stores soon.
The Xperia ZL is the non-water resistant sibling to the Xperia Z. It manages to pack a 1080p 5" screen, 13 MP camera and Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset into a smaller footprint, so if IP certification isn't a must for you, the ZL could be the better choice.